Hat adjusting means



Sept. 14, 1937. s, LIPTON 2,092,808

BAT ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Sept. 24 1956 1 tray 1/ R 7d 2% \7 i X @Q 6} [8 7 67%[4 INVENTOR w ,z/ e BYJARAH up)? ATTORNEYS tuting one end of the anchor and the tail portion ll constituting the other end.

Preferably, however, each needle is equipped with a removable protective sheath l3 as illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 3. This sheath consists of a sleeve of resilient sheet material such as celluloid which is split along one side. The sleeve is of about the same length as the needle but preferably a little longer. The edges of the sheath at the slit portion are desirably notched slightly at the point at which the cord emerges so that the notches embrace the cord and prevent accidental dislodgment of the sleeve. The device may be sold withsheaths for both needles, either applied or contained in the package with the device. If the sheaths are applied it is necessary to remove them for the application of the device to a hat band and then to re-apply them afterward. The sheath is of small enoughdiam-eter to grip the needle snugly when applied. In fact, it is necessary to expand, the sleeve slightly in order to apply it to the needle. The use of sleeves l3 in connection with the forms shown in Figs. 4 to 9 is also contemplated but the sleeves have not been illustrated as applied because they would only tend to obscure the other facts of construction. The feature of the removable protective sheath, .as described above, is not claimed herein except in association with other features of the invention herein covered. In its broader and more general aspects and uses it forms the subject matter of my copending application for Improvements in fastening devices, filed July 7, 1937, Serial No. 152,285.

It will be seen that the milliner can very quickly adjust the hat to the satisfaction of the custom-er l, without resorting to the use of any special equipment and without in any way attempting to remake the hat. e

The embodiments of Figs. 4 to 7 are the same as the embodiment of FigsJl to 3 with the exception that different forms of center stops are provided in the various structures.

In Fig. 4 the same reference numerals have been applied to the corresponding parts as in Fig. 3 with the letter a added in each instance. The center stop 80. of Fig. 4 is in the form of a metallic sleeve similar to a shoelace tip, which is simply wrapped around and clamped onto the middle of the cord Ba. 7

In Fig. 5 the same reference numerals have been employed as in Fig. l with the letter b added in each instance. The center stop 8b comprises two disaligned metallicitabs l3 which are connected through a body portion having a length equal to the combined widths of the tabs l3. The body portion is only wide enough, however, to wrap substantially half-way around the cord so that each of the tabs I3 is wrapped around the cord for another quarter turn to, cause the tabs 60 to extend from the cord in opposite directions.

In Fig. 6 the same reference numerals have been employed as in Figs. 1 to 3 with the letter 0 added. The center stop 80 consists of a metallic tab 14 and an integral sleeve portion I5.

65 This center stop'is substantially like the center stop 80. of Fig. 4 with one of the ends of the sleeve member extending beyond the sleeve portion- In Fig. '7 the same reference numerals have 7 been employed as in Figs. 1 to 3 with the letter d added. The center stop 8d consists of a simple knot formed in the cord at the middle of the cord. 1

In the embodiment of Fig. 8 the needle 1e is of 75 the same construction as the needles of the other figures, but the cord Be is not provided with a center stop. One end of the cord 66 has attached to it a fiat button l5 which is designed to serve as an end stop. In applying this form of device the operator starts the stitching from one side of the hat band, and stitches toward the center of the back of the hat and beyond that point so as to divide the stitching substantially equally between the two opposite sides of the hat.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9 the needle 1 is of the same construction as the needles of the other figures. The elastic cord 6 is not provided with a center stop but is provided with an adjustable end stop IT at the end remote from the needle. The adjustable end stop may consist of a resilient metallic plate having a notch [8 formed in one end and extending for about one-half the length of the plate. The plate is stamped or otherwise formed to provide a sleeve portion l9 along the middle of the plate, the sleeve defining a channel or passage 20 of somewhat smaller diameter than the normal diameter of the cord. The passage is entered through an open slot 2| through which the cord can be forced when the cord is stretched. As soon as the cord is seated in the passage 20 and released, however, it expands so as to fill the passage and be firmly gripped by the passage walls. When the cord has been applied to the hat band the adjustablestop I! can be shifted in either direction along the cord as desired. This is accomplished by seizing the side edges of the stop with the thumb and third finger of the hand, and at the same time pressing the sleeve portion l9 at its outer or rear side so as to distort and enlarge the passage 20 suificiently to enable the cord to be moved along the passage. As soon as the stop is released by the fingers it will spring back to its initial or normal position .and again grip the cord firmly.

The purpose of. providing the notch I8 is to 7 cause the cord, when applied to a hat band, to

extend away from the end stop I! at about the middle of the end stop so that the tension of the cord will cause the end stop to lie fiat against the hat band in a position which is sure to be comfortable to the wearer.

With this form of theinvention the milliner can be sure of securing the exact adjustment which is most comfortable to the wearer of the hat. By applying the cord to the hat band in such a manner that the cord will not be initially under tension, adjustment can be readily effected to increase the tension to the proper extent by shifting the clip I! along the cord. The milliner is not committed to any specific setting, but may re-adjust the clip as many times as necessary in either direction until a proper fit is secured. In fact, the wearer may re-adjust the clip after the hat has been'worn for a time and the cord has lost some of its elasticity.

The adapting of a hat to the head of the wearer by the means disclosed herein is an extremely simple and expeditious operation which involves little expense and which accomplishes the desired result in a very satisfactory manner.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the invention disclosed and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 71,828 filed March 31, 1936 for Wearing apparel. While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principles may be utilized.

I claim:

1. In a hat, in combination, a crown, a band secured along its lower margin to' the lower portion of the crown, but having its upper margin free, and an elastic cord having acenter stop and equipped with needles at its ends, said cord being stitched through the free margin of the band with the center stop located at the rear center of the band.

2; A device for adjusting a hat to the wearers head comprising an elastic cord having a center stop provided midway between its ends and needles permanently attached to the ends of the cord, each needle comprising a body portion which encircles and grips a cord end, and a point which extends beyond the cord end.

3. A device for adjusting a hat to the wearers head comprising an elastic cord having a center stop provided midway between its ends and needles permanently attached to the ends of the cord, each needle comprising a body portion which encircles and grips the cord, a point which extends beyond the cord end, and a tail which extends from the body portion in the direction away from the point, the needle being weakened be tween the point and body to facilitate breaking off of the point.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the center stop consists of threads wrapped around the cord at its middle portion.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the center stop consists of a metallic sleeve placed in binding relation about the middle portion of the cord.

6. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the center stop consists of a knot formed in the 40 middle of the cord.

7. In a hat, in combination, a crown, a

secured along its lower margin to the lower portion of the crown but having its upper margin free, an elastic cord stitched'through the free margin of the band, a needle at atleast one end and a metal strip placed on the cord at a spaced interval from the needle. 7

8. Ina hat, in combination, a crown, a band secured along its lower margin to the lower portion of the crown but having itsupper margin,

tion of the crown, but having its upper'margin' free, and an elastic cord having a center stop and equipped with needles at its ends, the needles being provided with removable protective sheaths of resilient material, said cord being stitched through thefree margin of the band with the center stop located at the rear center of the band.

10. In a hat, in combination, a crown, a band secured along its lower margin to the lower portion of the crownobut having its uppermargin free, and an elastic cord stitched through the band substantially parallel to the free margin thereof and extending circumferentially part way around the band, said cord having an element ateach end forming an anchorage for the cord; the material of the band being held in gathered or contracted condition between the two anchorage elements, at least one of the anchorage elements being a needle element by which the cord may be stitched through the band;

SARAH LIPTON, 

